Wind instrument and closure member for wind instrument

Abstract

A wind instrument is provided having a basic body in which extends a central duct which is bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body, a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connect the duct with the surrounding air, a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each having a closure member co-acting with an opening and having a control assembly connected to the valves. The control assembly guides the closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by the closure assembly and an open position in which the opening is left clear. The closure assembly has a plate of stiff material which is provided on the side facing toward the opening with sealing material and which in the closed position engages sealingly around the opening. The closure member is connected to the control assembly by a yieldable member.

I claim: 
     
       1. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connect the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein the closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one connection member of flexible material at least partly surrounding said core and connected to said control means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means, wherein said connection member is more flexible than said core.   
     
     
       2. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable means provides axial displacement of the closure member relative to said control means when a keying force is applied to said yieldable means. 
     
     
       3. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure member is supported relative to the control means by a central elastic element surrounded by said support member including a ring of elastic material, which support member permits tilting of said closure member. 
     
     
       4. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure member is connected in its center to said control means. 
     
     
       5. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection member is a ring of elastic foam material surrounding said core and permitting tilting of said plate. 
     
     
       6. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closure member is connected in its center to said control means. 
     
     
       7. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member is connected in its center to said control means. 
     
     
       8. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing material includes a thin layer of foam material. 
     
     
       9. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connect the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein the closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one ring of soft material bounding a radial displacement of said plate and connected to said control means, said ring at least partly surrounding said core and radially extending beyond the edge of said plate,   wherein said control means comprises a disc covering said closure member, and wherein a radial displacement of the plate is bounded by a collar of said disc, said disc being connected to said control means, said collar facing toward the opening.   
     
     
       10. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein said yieldable means provides axial displacement of said closure member relative to said control means when a keying force is applied to said yieldable means. 
     
     
       11. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein the closure member is supported relative to the control means by a central elastic element surrounded by a support member including a ring of elastic material, which support member permits tilting of said closure member. 
     
     
       12. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein the closure member is connected in its center to said control means. 
     
     
       13. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sealing includes a thin layer of foam material. 
     
     
       14. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means,   wherein said plate is connected to a rod of said control means by engagement means of stiff material comprising an engagement element,   wherein said engagement means is fixedly mounted to said rod, and   wherein said engagement means extends from a center of said plate in diverse directions over only a portion of the radius of said plate.   
     
     
       15. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein said yieldable means provides axial displacement of said closure member relative to said control means when a keying force is applied to said yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one connection member of flexible material at least partly surrounding said core and connected to said control means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means. 
     
     
       16. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein the closure member is supported relative to the control means by a central elastic element surrounded by said support member including a ring of elastic material, which support member permits tilting of said closure member. 
     
     
       17. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein the closure member is connected in its center to said control means. 
     
     
       18. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein said plate is made of titanium. 
     
     
       19. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 14, wherein said plate is made of stainless steel having a thickness between 0.15 and 0.8 mm. 
     
     
       20. A closure member for a wind instrument, comprising: a plate of having a stiffness which is provided on a first side with sealing material attached to said plate for sealingly engaging around an opening of the wind instrument in a closed position; and   a yieldable means secured to said plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side of said plate with the sealing material, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate and at least one connection member of flexible material at least partly surrounding said core.   
     
     
       21. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 20, wherein said yieldable means comprises a ring-shaped connection member of elastic foam material arranged on the second side of said plate. 
     
     
       22. The closure member as claimed in claim 21, wherein said ring-shaped connection member is arranged in a bush having an edge extending in a direction toward said plate, wherein said edge engages the outside of said ring-shaped connection member. 
     
     
       23. The closure member as claimed in claim 20, wherein said yieldable means comprises a flexible membrane having its peripheral edge adhered to the second side of said plate. 
     
     
       24. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one connection member of flexible material which is more flexible than the elastic material of the core connected to said control means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means.   
     
     
       25. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate without holes made of material having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one connection member of flexible material at least partly surrounding said core and connected to said control means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means.   
     
     
       26. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate relative to said control means and at least one connection member of flexible material connected to said control means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means, said yieldable means being arranged between said control means and said plate and said connection member being adhered to said control means and to said plate.   
     
     
       27. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate without holes made of material having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means, said yieldable means comprising at least two yieldable members positioned between said plate and said control means, the at least two yieldable members including a first yieldable member and a second yieldable member.   
     
     
       28. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first yieldable member is a core positioned about the center of said plate and said second yieldable member is at least partly surrounding said core. 
     
     
       29. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 28, wherein said second yieldable member is annular-shaped and receives said first yieldable member therein. 
     
     
       30. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 28, wherein said second yieldable member is a membrane attached to said plate and to said control means, said second yieldable member includes a body with an outer edge attached to said plate. 
     
     
       31. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 30, wherein said second yieldable member defines a gap between said second yieldable member body and said plate. 
     
     
       32. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 27, wherein said first yieldable member and said second yieldable member are made of different materials. 
     
     
       33. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 32, wherein said different materials have differing hardness. 
     
     
       34. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second yieldable member is adhesively secured to at least one of said plate and said control means and said first yieldable member is unadhered to said plate. 
     
     
       35. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 27, wherein said second yieldable member is made of a more flexible material than said first yieldable member. 
     
     
       36. A wind instrument, comprising: a basic body, in which extends a central duct bounded by a peripheral wall of the basic body;   a plurality of openings in the peripheral wall which connects the duct with the surrounding air; and   a plurality of valves mounted on the basic body and each comprising a closure member co-acting with one of the openings in the peripheral wall and comprising control means connected to said valves,   wherein said control means guide said closure member for movement between a closed position in which the opening is closed by said closure member and an open position in which the opening is left clear,   wherein said closure member comprises a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side facing toward the opening with sealing material attached to said plate and in the closed position engaging around the opening and wherein said plate is connected to said control means by yieldable means, said yieldable means positioned on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material and facing said control means, said yieldable means comprising at least two yieldable members positioned between said plate and said control means, the at least two yieldable members including a first yieldable member and a second yieldable member.   
     
     
       37. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first yieldable member is a core positioned about the center of said plate and said second yieldable member is at least partly surrounding said core. 
     
     
       38. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 37, wherein said core is cone-shaped. 
     
     
       39. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 37, wherein said core is spherical-shaped. 
     
     
       40. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 37, wherein at least one of said first yieldable member and said second yieldable member is annular-shaped. 
     
     
       41. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 40, wherein said first yieldable member and said second yieldable member are annular-shaped and secured to said plate by a pin passing therethrough, wherein said second yieldable member is a hose received by said pin, and wherein said hose is positioned between said pin and said plate.   
     
     
       42. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said second yieldable member is a connection member and is adhesively secured to at least one of said plate and said control means and said first yieldable member is unadhered to said plate. 
     
     
       43. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said second yieldable member is made of a more flexible material than said first yieldable member. 
     
     
       44. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 36, wherein said first yieldable member and said second yieldable member are made of different materials. 
     
     
       45. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 44, wherein said different materials have differing hardness. 
     
     
       46. A closure member for a wind instrument, comprising: a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side of said plate facing toward an opening of the wind instrument with sealing material attached to said plate for sealingly engaging around the opening of the wind instrument, in a closed position; and   a yieldable means secured to said plate on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate and at least one connection member of flexible material, which is more flexible than the elastic material of said core.   
     
     
       47. A closure member for a wind instrument, comprising: a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side of said plate facing toward an opening of the wind instrument with sealing material attached to said plate for sealingly engaging around the opening of the wind instrument in a closed position; and   a yieldable means secured to said plate on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least one core made of elastic material for cushioning said plate and at least one connection member of flexible material, said yieldable means being adhered to said plate.   
     
     
       48. A closure member for a wind instrument, comprising: a plate having a stiffness which is provided on a side of said plate facing toward an opening of the wind instrument with sealing material attached to said plate for sealingly engaging around said opening of the wind instrument in a closed position; and   a yieldable means secured to said plate on a side of said plate opposite the side of said plate with the sealing material, said yieldable means comprising a combination of at least two yieldable members for cushioning said plate, the at least two yieldable members including a first yieldable member for cushioning said plate and a second yieldable member connecting said plate to said control means.   
     
     
       49. The closure member as claimed in claim 48, wherein said first yieldable member is a core positioned about the center of said plate and said second yieldable member is at least partly surrounding said core. 
     
     
       50. The closure member as claimed in claim 49, wherein said second yieldable member is annular-shaped and receives said first yieldable member therein. 
     
     
       51. The wind instrument as claimed in claim 49, wherein said core is spherical-shaped. 
     
     
       52. The closure member as claimed in claim 49, wherein said core is cone-shaped. 
     
     
       53. The closure member as claimed in claim 49, wherein said second yieldable member is a connection member attached to said plate and to said control means, said second yieldable member includes a body with an outer edge attached to said plate. 
     
     
       54. The closure member as claimed in claim 53, wherein said second yieldable member defines a gap between said second yieldable member body and said plate. 
     
     
       55. The closure member as claimed in claim 48, wherein said first yieldable member and said second yieldable member are made of different materials. 
     
     
       56. The closure member as claimed in claim 55, wherein said different materials have differing hardness. 
     
     
       57. The closure member as claimed in claim 48, wherein said second yieldable member is adhesively secured to at least one of said plate and said control means and said first yieldable member is unadhered to said plate. 
     
     
       58. The closure member as claimed in claim 48, wherein said second yieldable member is made of a more flexible material than said first yieldable member.